Tenure reform is not a 'war on teachers': column

12:39 AM,
Jun. 14, 2014

Marcellus McRae, plaintiff's co-lead counsel helped the plaintiffs on the Vergara v. California lawsuit, praises a landmark decision that could influence the gathering debate over tenure across the country.

Written by

Eric Hanushek
For Gannett Central Wisconsin Media

Public schools are constitutionally empowered to educate our next generation, but they often stray from that path to over-emphasize the rights, pay, and benefits of their employees.

In a stunning decision, a judge in the California Superior Court has ruled that, because education is a fundamental right of California youth, the laws governing teacher tenure, teacher dismissal and rules for layoffs are unconstitutional. This ruling only applies to California - and surely will be appealed by the teachers union - but it could open up consideration of students' rights in a larger number of ...